Mental Health Counseling in Springfield, Illinois
My Promise To You
By showing genuineness, empathetic understanding, and acceptance or Client-Centered and Insight-Oriented Approach, my clients feel safe to express their emotions without fear or rejection, and this frees them to become more self-aware and change their behaviors.
I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, where clients learn to change the way feel, based on the way they think. They can then respond more positively, even if the situation does not change. DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness.
Children, Adolescents & Adults - Play Therapy and Eating Disorders
I began my career as a child therapist and am trained in both Play Therapy and Principles of Theraplay. I teach parenting skills, including insights to step-parenting.
I also work with parents and families who experience Parental Alienation.
I help clients of all ages recover from Eating Disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. I also specialize in treating children and adolescents with eating disorders and use the Maudsley Approach, a family-based therapy and use a team approach with a physician and dietitian.
Relaxing Ways To Heal
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, and with Hypnotherapy (Relaxation Therapy), I teach clients how to create unconscious changes in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors and feelings.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) has had a dramatic effect on helping my clients reduce anxiety, and I show them how to use this technique, as well as the art of Meditation and Mindfulness.
I also enjoy educating clients how to heal themselves from traumatic experiences through Dr. Francine Shapiro's book: Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
Overcoming Depression & Anxiety
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and treatment, I am able to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.
Moving Past Trauma & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger from post traumatic events. I can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing.
OCD, ADHD & Asperger's Syndrome
When these children, adolescents or adults come to me, I understand their perspective: that they interpret their world around them differently than others. Those with OCD have anxiety as the root cause of their disorder and experience emotional distress, and those with ADHD can be very intelligent and have a unique way of focusing that is unlike most people. Those with Asperger's often hyper-focus, exhibit odd mannerisms and communicate in non-traditional ways. I help them with skills to navigate in the world better.